Discovery of Superionic Water by International Research Team Could Explain Ice Giants' Magnetic Fields
An international research team has discovered a new form of superionic water, formed under extreme temperatures and pressures, which could help explain the magnetic fields of ice giants like Uranus and Neptune. This phase allows hydrogen ions to move freely through a solid lattice of oxygen atoms, revealing a complex structure that combines face-centered cubic and hexagonal close-packed stacking. The study involved over 60 scientists and utilized high-precision measurements at facilities in Germany and the USA.
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An international team led by scientists from the University of Rostock, École Polytechnique, and Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf has discovered a novel form of superionic water at the European XFEL in Germany and the LCLS in the USA. This phase of water, formed under extreme temperatures and pressures, allows hydrogen ions to move freely through a solid lattice of oxygen atoms, potentially explaining the unusual magnetic fields of ice giants like Uranus and Neptune.
The study revealed a complex structure of superionic water combining face-centered cubic and hexagonal close-packed stacking, rather than the previously assumed cubic arrangements. The research involved high-precision measurements at extreme conditions and was supported by the DFG and ANR, with over 60 scientists participating.
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